Calif. city to start fining for false alarms

HERCULES, Claif. — Hercules residents gained new reason to bone up on their burglar-alarm owner's manuals this month.

Police will start enforcing stiff fines for errant alarms in hopes of cutting down on the time-consuming chore of checking on them. Three false alarms nets a $150 ticket, and there's a $200 bill for each false alarm thereafter.